Brain-eating amoeba found in Louisiana water

'It is safe to drink, to eat, and use to cook' ... but don't let it go up nose

Published: 08/28/2014 at 11:44 PM

(USA Today) St. John the Baptist Parish officials are carefully monitoring the parish’s water system after test results confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri, which is a deadly amoeba that can infect the brain.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, or DHH, issued an emergency order late Wednesday requiring the parish to perform a chlorine burn throughout its water system to kill the amoeba.

According to the parish and state health officials, the water is safe to drink, and no one has become sick from the amoeba.